His name is Dave. Uncle Dave to some, grandpa Dave to others. And here he is singing to his grandson Joseph, a little boy with Down’s Syndrome.
Little Joseph sits on Dave’s lap, facing his grandfather who has decided to serenade him with “What a wonderful world”.
The adorable moment is captured on video and uploaded by Meghan Gonoude, Joseph’s aunt. It looks to be some sort of family gathering with karaoke ready for would be singers.
And it is karaoke done right.
This timeless song was released in 1968 and to this day remains one of the most relaxing, most iconic songs ever to grace the airwaves.
The song was written by Bob Thiele and George Weiss. Louis Armstrong’s now beloved gruff crooning brings to mind the wonders of this beautiful world.
No hate, no war, no discrimination.
The song wasn’t an initial hit in America. It sold less than 1,000 copies all because then ABC Records head Larry Newton chose not to promote the song. He wasn’t a fan of it.
“What a wonderful world” saw huge success in the UK, reaching number one and going on to become the biggest-selling single of 1968.
It was in 1988 when Armstrong’s recording appeared in the film Good Morning, Vietnam where it was re-released as a single. The song reached a new peak of number 32.
The film is a beloved classic, one of the more memorable ones, and surely this moment between Dave and Joseph fits the vibe of the song.
A baby is normally born with 46 chromosomes. Down syndrome sees a baby have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, called chromosome 21. The medical term for having an extra copy of a chromosome is ‘trisomy.’
Down syndrome is also referred to as Trisomy 21.
What happens is it affects the baby’s body and brain development, causing both mental and physical challenges for the child.
Joseph seems to be enjoying the music. Dave isn’t a spectacular singer by any means but what that is, is love for the little guy.
Since Down syndrome show a developmental delay in motor skills, social/self-help skills and expressive language skills, music can help kids like Joseph.
Dave here may not know it but he’s helping Joseph.
Perfect song choice too, telling the little boy that the world isn’t that bad if only he’d open his eyes to the colors of the trees and roses, the sile of strangers, and the gift of love.
“I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll never know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world”
What a lovely contrast between a man who has seen life and a little boy who is yet to experience life in his own little way.
It’s a moment that stops the world. Where two simple individuals at a family event decided to share love with the power of music. And what a wonderful moment to witness.
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